Leonard Stephen Downes was born in Croyden, Surrey, England, c1911 . Downes began studying at the University of Glasgow in 1929 , taking English and French during his first year. In his second year he studied Modern European History, Logic and Metaphysics. In his third year he studied Geography and Spanish. In his fourth year he studied French and Spanish. He graduated MA Honours in French and Spanish in 1934 , and went onto a career as a Lecturer in Portugal and Brazil. In 1954 he became Secretary for the British Council and by 1966 had been awarded an OBE and made a British Council Representative. He died in 1989 .
From the guide to the Papers of Leonard Stephen Downes, c.1911-1989, arts graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1931-1932, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
